Swimmer&#39;s appliance



May 19, 1925. 1,538,492

J. REITER SWIMMER S APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 9, 1923 Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITEDiSTA TE S JOSEPH nnrrna, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

swnvrmnns APPLIANCE.

" Application filed October 9, 1923. Serial No. 667,463.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Josnrn REITER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swi'mmers Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to swimmers appliances, having more particular reference to a device, for assisting in keeping the swimmer afloat, the present invention being a further development of one disclosedby me in a previous application filed on October 9, 1922, under Serial N01 593,186.

The invention has for an object the provision of a novel form of float, or sustaining element, which will possess considerable buoyancy while at the same time will not be liable to damage.

For further comprehension of-the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of-the invention are more particularly .setforth.

vFig.1 of the drawing is a rear elevational view showing my improved device in po sition for use. a

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of one of the floats.

Fig. is a transverse sectional view thereof. 1

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing a modified'form of float.

' Fig.6 is an enlarged fragmentary transversesection on the line 5--5 of 4.

My improved device here comprises a pair of floats. or sustainingelements, which are secured on a common-strap or belt 10 which is buckled around the body of the user, while shoulder straps 11 may also be provided. Each of these floats comprises an outer casing12 of metal which is madeup of two halves or sections soldered together to be air and waterproof, the completed casing being generally of flat oblong conformation.

Inside this casing is a hollow wooden block 14 which is made up of two halves or sections which are suitably joined together to leave an entirely enclosed interior chamber.

If desired, a'solid one-piece filler block might be used. This block is made from one of the lighter varieties of wood, as will be understood.

As a reinforcement, to prevent any tendency of the casing to buckle inwardly, I may place inside the casing and in direct contact with the wall thereof, as here shown between the block 14 and the casing'wall, a grillelike skeleton structure 15 made by stamping out a suitable sheet of metal to leave longi-- tudinal members and transverse members thus reinforcing the casing without any material addition to the weight thereof. It will be understood that this reinforcing element might be applied either with or without the filler block, the latter being omitted if desired where the float is not likely to be subjected to hard usage, or to being knocked around. V

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown an arrangement in which the casing is made up of two halves l2 whichare detachably secured upon the wooden block so that access to the interior of the latter may be had to use it as a receptacle for articles. The wooden block is made up of two halves 2O separated along the line 21 and each having an outwardly projecting flange element 22 extending therearound, these flange elements uniting to form' a single tapered rib extending around the block.

Engaged with the opposite inclined faces of this rib are rubber gasket rings 24 which fitbetween the said faces of the rib and outturned flanges 25 on the respective sections'of. the casing. Placed over these gaskets 24 are channeled members 27 of which there are four, one on each side and one on each end of the float, and which are seblock from becoming moist and to fill the cavity of the latter with water thus keeping the wood light and at the same time intact by insects. I

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a float of the type described, a holme" u metal cas ng formed i We se t o each haying a flange extending aronnd the edge (thereof, i filler block having a rib extending therearound and projecting between the said flanges, gaskets fitting against the opposite sides or said rib, and channeled members engaging over said gaskets and secured detzlchably to said casing sections.

In ,testixneny whereof I have afiixed my signature.

JOSEPH REITER. 

